Electric toaster



M. IRELAND ELECTRIC TOASTER Dec. 27, 1938.

Filed June 30, 195'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lSO fi a mm wm i 1 am 0 y DA .m w 3 M OJ .L F 3 3 Fig-2 M. IRELAND ELECTRIC TOASTER Dec. 27, 1938.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June $50, 1937 Fig T10 ZOI Invert +30%:

Murr-a Ir-eLan Patented'Dec. 27, 1938 memo roas'mn Murray Ireland, St. Paul,

Minn., assignor to McGraw Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 30, 1937, Serial No. 151,221

11 Claims.

My invention relates to electric cooking appliances and particularly to electric toasters.

Among the objects of my invention are the following: To provide an encased toaster structure containing a minimum number of parts; to provide a toaster structure in which the parts interfit with each other to be held in proper operative positions; to provide a simple structure for the intended purpose; to provide a casing for a toaster that shallbe so designed and constructed as to provide its own finish strip and to provide a toaster casing having relatively simple means to hold the parts thereof in tightly assembled condition. Other objects of my invention will here- 16 inafter appear.

In the drawings, a

Figure 1 is a perspective. view of a toaster embodying my invention, a

Fig. 2 is a. view in lateral vertical sectiontherethrough taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 8 showing parts there in non-toasting position,

Fig. 3 is .a view similar to that of Fig. 2 but with parts thereof 'shown in toasting position,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, in horizontal sec- 26 tion, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 8,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of certain parts of the casing before assembly,

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the parts of Fig. 5 after assembly and taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. i

\ Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a part of the assembled casing showing interlocking means thereon,

Fig. 8 is a view in vertical longitudinal section '35 taken on the line a--a of Fig. 2,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2, Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section taken on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 11 is a view in vertical lateral section taken on the line ll-H of Fig. 8, and,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the top frame plate.

The device embodying my invention is shown more particularly as an oven type toaster in which slices of bread to be toasted are placed into the toasting chamber from the top thereof and is here shown as a two-slice toaster, although the capacity of the toaster is immateriaL- -A toaster 2| includes a base '23 which may be generally rectangular form and may have portions 25 bent downwardly out of the normal plane thereof to provide crumb trays under the respective toasting chambers. The under cover is also provided with one or more slots 21 therein, (see Figs. 4 and 11), to permit of ventilation of the toasting chamber in a manner now well known in the art.

The base is shown as supported above a table top 29 (see Fig. 1 of the drawings) by means of .5 heat insulating supports 3|, located at the respective corners of the substantially rectangular base. Each of these supports has a portion 33 extending beyond the outer periphery of the adjacent part of the base for a purpose to be here- 10 inafter referred to and each of these supports is secured to the base as by a suitable rivet 35 (see Fig. 4). The base is provided at each corner thereof with a plurality of small openings 31 spaced from the rivet 35 (see Fig. 4). is provided at each corner thereof-with a plurality of small openings 31 spaced from the rivet 35 and each of the supports is provided with a pair of projections 39 on their upper surfaces,

which projections are adapted to interflt with 20 the openings 31 to thereby prevent any turning movement of the supports with respect to the base, which turning movement might otherwise be permitted by the single securing'means. While- Ihave shown four separate supports, I do not wish 25 to be restricted thereto, as'I may use a skeleton support below the base, the top face of the support being large enough to extend beyond the adjacent edge of the base.

The base is provided with a plurality of up-,

wardly extending short flanges 4| at each end thereof. The base is also provided at each of its sides with an upwardly extending flange, the use of these flanges being referred to here-' inafter. a

A toasting chamber structure is adapted to be positioned on the base and includes a bottom plate 45 which has the same general contour as does the base. The bottom plate includes depending flanges 41 at the front and the rear end there 40 of as well as depending flanges 49 at each of its sides, these flanges being so designed and positioned that they will interflt with the hereinbefore described flanges 41 and 43 on the base and will be positioned inside of these-flanges as is shown 45 in Figs. 8 afar 11 of the drawings' The bottom plate is provided with two openings 51 therein. A number of projections 53 (see Fig. 4 of the drawings) extend laterally of the walls adjacent the openings 5| in the bottom plate toward each 50 other and are provided with apertures 55 near the outer ends for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The chamber structure includes a front intermediate wall 5'1 and a rearintermediate wall 59, 55

The base 15 the bottom portions of tom plate 45, certain of these such as to permit of their being the bottom plate may securely support and hold the front and rear intermediate plates. A top frame plate 63 extends across and between the upper ends of the front and rear intermediate and 61 which openings are provided to permit of insertion and removal of slices of bread into the toasting chamber. j

The front and rear intermediate walls 51' and 59 are provided with extensions 69 at the top end thereof, which extensions are adapted to fit into the openings 65 and Glimmediately adjacent the lateral depending flange portions H of the top frame plate 63, shown particularly in Fig. 12 of the drawings. The top frame plate is secured to the front and rear intermediate walls by screws 13 extending through holes 15 in the depending flange portion H at the respective ends thereof.

The intermediate portion '11 of the top frame plate between the openings 05 and 81 is provided with a plurality of spaced depressions 19 at each side edge thereof and in the present instance four such depressions are provided at each edge of the part 11, there being apertures 8Ii-through the part 11 at the inner end of the respectivedepressions. Each of the outer portions'83 of the topfframe plate has an inner portion 84 located in substantially the same plane as'is the intermediate'part 11, an angularly downwardly depending portion 85 and ends in a narrow depending portion 81 substantially as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. The substantially horizontally extending inner portion 84 is provided with depressions 89 similar to those provided in the edges of portion 11 and the angularly downwardly extending portion 86 is provided with slots 9| alined with the depressions 89. The central part 11 has two punchedout tongue portions 93 depending therefrom, the

general shape being shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings and including an end portion 95 of reduced width which may be considered as shoulders or shoulder portions and whose use will be hereinafter referred to. a

' The toaster frame structure includes a plurality of substantially vertically extending heating elements 91 comprising one or moresheets 99 of relatively thin electric-insulating material, on

which there is wound a resistor strip or wire IM and it is to be noted that substantially all of the length of this resistor is wound on that face of the electric-insulating sheet which is adjacent to a slice of bread being toasted. It may be here pointed out that two such heating elements 91 are provided for each slice of bread and the drawings show a two-slice toaster so that a total of four electric heating elements are provided.

The bottom frame plate 45 is provided with elongated slots I03, while the lower end portion of each insulating sheet 99 is provided with a preferably integral tab or reduced extension. Each such tab is received within one of the elongated slots I03, whereby each sheet of insulating material is held in proper operative position relawhich have extensions projecting through suitable openings'in the bot proJections"- being twisted after. being extended through the bottom plate whereby the top frame plate is provided with two spaced longitudinally-extending openings 95 lugs 55 in the inwardly operative positions in the following manner, reference being here made particularly to Fig. 11 of the drawings. The upper ends of the respective outermost sheets 99 are prevented from movement in an outwardly direction by engagement th the inside face of the portion 81 of the top frame plate. Movement of these outermost sheets of electric insulating material in an opposite direction is prevented by depending portions I05 .of guard wires I01, substantially as shown in Fig.

11 of the drawings. These guard wires are suspended from the top frame plate and the outermost rows of guard wires have upper end portions --which fit into the depressions 89 in portions 84 of the top frame plate to be thereby positioned and held against movement longitudinally of portion 83. The angularly depending portions I05 are positioned in and extended through the elongated openings 9| in portions 83 of the top frame plate, substantially as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. The lower end portions of the outermost guard wires extend through the openprojecting portions 53 of the bottom frame plate.

The upper edge portions of the two innermost 1 sheets of' electric-insulating material are adapted to fit into the shoulders or notches 95in the depending portions 93 of the central part 11 of the v top frame plate as will be seen by reference to Fig. 11 of the drawings. The inner two sets of guard wires I01 have lateral top portions I09 of appreciable length, (see Fig. 11) as well as angularly depending portions I II. The portions I09 of the respective guard wires are adapted to be received in the several depressions" in the central portion 11 and the portions III are adapted to extend through the apertures 8I substantially as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, the lower ends of the respective portions III overlapping the upper ends or edges of the sheets of electricinsulating material to prevent movement of these upper edges in a direction away from the depending shouldered portions 93. Since each of the plates of electric-insulating material supporting the resistor have interfitting engagement with the bottom frame plate as hereinbefore explained, and since the upper edge portions of each of the plates of electric-insulating material are held between depending parts of the top frame plate and parts of a plurality of guard wires, it is evident Terminal members II8 are insulatedly supported on the rear intermediate plate 59 near the bottom thereof and suitable connections H9 extend therefrom to the respective terminals 1' on the several heating elements whereby suitable connections may be made through a control switch now to be described. A pair of contact members II9 are insulatedly supported on the bottom plate 45 at one front corner thereof and it is to be understood that these fixedly supported contact members are to be included in the circuit with the electric heating elements. Means engaging the contact members II9 to close a circuit through the electric heating elements includes a contact bridging member I 2| supported by a resilient strip I23 which mounted on a carriage I23 which. carriage is adapted to be moved vertically on a standard I21. The lower end of this standard inter-fits with and is'suPDOrted by the bottom plate 4! while its upper end is held by a bracket I29 of 76 is insulatedly 7 substantially L-shape secured to front intermediate plate 51.

Means for causinga downward movement of carriage I25 may include a'member I3I, of generallyL-shape, which is pivotally suspended from a pivot pin I33 extending through member 13! near its upper end and fixed in a rearwardly extending flange I34 of carriage I25. An actuating knob I35 may be secured to the outer end of the substantially horizontal extending portion of member I3I which knob is adapted to be 10- cated-outside of a casing to be hereinafter referred toin greater detail. Member I3I has a spring biased catch I31 pivotally mounted thereon which catch is adapted to be moved downwardly past a latch I39 (see Fig. 10) to thereby hold the carriage and otherparts controlled thereby and movable therewith in predetermined operative positions.

Means for supporting one or more slices of bread include bars I4I having integral angularly outwardly and upwardly extending projections I43 at each side thereof (see-Fig. 11) upon which a slice of bread may be supported. These bread slice support bars I extend through slots I45 in the rear intermediate plate 59 and extend through the front intermediate plate 51 through similar slots I41 and have front portions I49 whereby they may be secured to carriage I25 which is provided with lateral and rearwardly extending portions I59 for that purpose.

Means for resiliently biasing the control switch for the heating elements to open position and.

the carriage and bread slice supports to an upper or non-toasting position includes a spring I5I having its upper end portion connected to an upper part of bracket I29 and its lower end connected to a lower part I53 of carriage I25. If 'an operator desires to move the carriage downwardly, he presses on the actuating knob I35 and catch I31 is so constructed and arranged that it will ride past latch I39 during its downa ward movement but will be caused to move underneath latch I39 by a spring I55 to thereby hold the bread slice supports and the carriage in their lower positions, which is also the toasting position for the slices of bread, while at the same time contact bridging member I2I is held in close operative engagement with contact members II9 thereby causing energization of the heating elements, it being assumed of course that a twin conductor cord I51 has its outer end connected to a suitable source of supply of electric energy.

To cause movement of the bread slice supports and the carriage in an upwardly direction and simultaneous disengagement of the contact means on the carriage and on the front intermediate plate 51. This shock-absorber includes a dash pot I6I which is held by a'bracket I63 secured to the front intermediate plate 51 near its upper end portion, a piston I 65 movable therein and a piston rod I61 extending through an opening in a lateral extension I69 secured to a part of carriage I25. Collars "I and I13 are secured to the piston rod I61 and are spaced apart a suitable distanceso that during downward movement of carriage I25, member I69 will engage lower collar I13 and move piston I65 downwardly in cylinder I6I to substantially the positionshown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. On upward movement of the carriage, member I69 engages upper collar I1I causing upward movement of piston I65 in cylinder I6I thereby effecting a more gradual deceleration and -final stopping of the upward movement of the carriage with less jar than would otherwise be the case. It is obvious that the shock absorber is effective during the downward movement of the carriage and the-bread slice supports but since this movement is effected manually it will not be particularly noticeable to an operator,

An outercasing I15 includes a central portion I11 constituting front and rear walls and a top wall, the general shape of part I11 of the casing being that of an inverted U. The top part of member I11 is provided with openings I19'and' I8I registering with openings 65 and 61 in the top frame plate, slices of bread being insertable into the toasting chamber in the frame structure I have lugs or extensions I89 thereon at sub-.-

stantially near the mid portion of their lengths 'which lugs are adapted to extend into and through openings I9I in side wall portions I83,

the general position of lugs I89 being shown in -Fig. 1 of the drawings.

adapted to be bent over against the adjacent.

These lugs I89 are portions of the side wall so that the interfitting portions shown particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings will hold them in tightly assembled relation relatively to each other. At the bottom edge of member I11 I provide at each side thereof an integral depending extension I93, whichextension is bent upwardly and around a part of the shouldered flange H81 whereby the lower edge portions of member I11 and the adjacent portions of side walls I83 are held in fixed tightly assembled positions.

The rear wall of member I11 may have a carrying knob I secured thereto and a bushing I91 of electric-insulating material may be provided through which cord I51 extends in the usual manner. The front wall of member I11 is provided with an elongated vertical slot I99 therein through whichextends member I3I.

' The front and the rear wall portions of member I11 are provided with integral lugs 20I depending from the lower edges thereof which lugs are adapted to be bent over edge portions of the base substantially as shown in Figs. 4 and 9 of the drawings. portions of the'base are resilient, it is evident that if lugs 29I are bent t'herearound while pressure is applied to the top of the casing, the casing willbe forced downwardly with its top portion in engagement with certain parts of the frame structure as will be referred to hereinafter while its bottom edge will rest upon and be in close Since the front and rear edge' engagement with the upper surface of the pro-:

jecting parts "of the insulating supports ill w: As has already been set forth hereinbeforejthe bottom plate of the frame structure interfits with the base inside of the same and, as seen from Fig. 1 of the drawings, the bottom edge 01' 1 the" casing overlaps the base to thereby provide its frame plate as shown more particularly in Fig. .11

of the drawings. Further, the upper end por-' tions of the respective guard wires are adapted; to fit into the notches 205 whereby relative movement of the guard wires, the top frame plate 63, and the top part of easing portion I" is effectively prevented. This insures a relatively solid and unyielding structure which, at the same time,

is quickly and easily assembled and disassembled; in case of necessity. A

It may further be pointed out that the outermost depending flanges I" are effective to prevent inward movement of the shouldered portions of side wall I83 as will be seen particularly by reference in Fig. 11 of the'drawings.

The device embodying my invention thus provides an electric cooking device and particularly a toaster having a minimum number of parts, in i which certain of the parts interflt with each other in a manner to permit not only of easy and quick assemblybut also of maintaining, the various parts in proper operative positions relatively to placed thereon as are imposed each other without the use of additional securing means. It is obvious that the toaster frame structure constituting or providing a toasting chamber is aunit in itself and therefore permits of sub-assembly operation in building up the toaster. The toaster frame structure is not secured to any other part of the assembly but merely rests upon the base with which it has interfltting engagement in such a manner as toprevent relative movements thereof, while the casing interflts with parts of the toaster frame structure to prevent movement in any direction,

and the casing is secured only to the base by relatively few and very simple means.

Various modifications may be made in the de-v vice embodying my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire therefore that only such limitations shall be by the prior art or are set forth in the appended claims.

able toasting chamber, an open bottom casing.

.on the base, an outer casing substantially en- I claim as my invention: 1. A toaster comprising a base, supporting means for the base, a toasting chamber structure closing and concealing the toasting chamber structure and the base, the lower marginal edge of the outer casing engaging and being supported by said supporting means and means to hold the outer casing, toasting chamber structure, base and supporting means in definite operative relationship.

2. A toaster comprising a base, supporting. means secured thereto and projecting beyond the outer periphery thereof, a toasting chamber structure resting on saidbase defining a heat- 1 gunner outside of. and. eoveringitheiouterperiph'eraiedge of said base and 'engagingithe f supporting means and v for causing-. the? casing "to f hold thefranie 5 structure against thezibasea'r 5 electric itoaster. comprising r a;

having an open bottom-ca frame structure T conw stituting a :zchamber and comprising a r,

bottom .platei having. depending peripheral flange 10* .portion'sp-r a base;- havingrl upwardly extending r flange-portions; adaptedgto interflt with: the a pending 'flange portions'. on; the.bottom plate.-and cooperatingimeans on the casingzand the baseto a holdall ofsaid memberszi'n; proper operative poof-.1 tions-relativelyntozeachother, the"bottonr.edge:-of' thefcasing covering ,.the flange-portions on bottom. plate and on the, base and constituting the external finish strip at theibottomofathe toaster-.1 '1' v4. An, electrictoaster comprisingan open boting flange portions in the :top partthereot, notches in said dependingflange portionswa frame structure within the casing, including a front wall,:a rearwallanda topframeplate adapted to be receivedbetween' said Dairof spaced flange portions 'toprevent relative movement of the top parts of theframe structure: and.:of the casing in one direction, saidwtopi frame plate having notches therein: adapted to register with the notches, in the depending flange portions and guard wiressupported by said top frame plate and having an intermediate portion thereof fitting in said registering notches toprevent relative movement of the top parts of the frame structure. and of the casing in another direction.

7 tom outer casinghaving a pair of spaced depend- 5. A toaster comprising a base, a toasting chamber structure on said base, a walled casingsubstantially enclosing said chamber and a single lug at the bottom edge of each of two opposed walls of the casing extending around'the adiacent outer peripheral edge of the base to hold all of said elements in tightly assembled proper operative positions relatively to each other.

6. In a toasterja heatable toasting chamber structure and an open bottom casing thereover, said casing comprising a member of inverted U.-shape having intumed flanges on its side edges, wall members having three shouldered edges intel-fitting with said flanged side edges and 9. lug at eachside of the end edges of the member of inverted U-shape bent over the adjacentpart of the shouldered edge of a wall member to hold the interfltting edges of the member of U-shape flanges, side walls having shouldered flanges on three edges adapted to interflt with the flanges on the member of U-shape. lugs at the respective ends of the member of U-shape return bent over the shoulder flange of the side wall to prevent inward movement of the side wall relatively to the member of U-shape and to cause the top edge of the sidewalls to engage the-top wall of said member of U-shape. I

8. A toaster as set forth in claim '6 in which the top, wall of said member of' U-shape is provided with a depending longitudinally extending flange engaging the shouldered flange on a side wall to prevent inward movement of the top part of the side wall relatively to the member of inverted U-shape. a

9. A toaster comprising a base, a toaster frame structure thereabove, an open bottom casing substantially enclosing said frame structure, heat insulating supports below the base, each having a part thereof extending beyond the outer periphery of the base, said extending part being adapted to have abutting engagement with the lower edge of the casing and interfitting means on the base and the respective supports to prevent turning movement of the supports relatively to the base.

10. A toaster comprising a base, a toaster frame structure restingthereon but unsecured thereto, an open bottom casing substantially enclosing said frame structure, heat insulating supports below the base, each having a marginal part ex tending beyond the outer periphery of the base, said extending part being adapted to be engaged by the lower edge of the casing to limit downward movement of the casing relatively to the base, cooperating pin and socket means on'the respec tive supports to prevent turning movement of the supports relatively to the base and cooperating means at the lower edge of the casing and carriage when moving to non-toasting position and shock absorbing means for reducing the impact of the carriage on said stop, said shock absorbing means including a dash pot supported bysald front wall, a piston movable in said dash pot and having a piston rod connected therewith,

an extension on said carriage guiding said piston rod and actuating said piston and means on said piston rod providing a lost motion connection between said carriage extension and said piston to only the end portion of the movement of the carriage to non-toasting position.

Y IRELAND.

cause the shock absorber to be effective during 

